Hat package



March 15, 1943.

L. A. SCHORNSTEIN ETAL HAT PACKAGE Filed Nov..19, 1940 2 h -Sheet 1 I gmwvbo'as LEOPOLD ASCHOPNS TE/IV PA PHA E L M- 5 CHOP/V575 IV March l6,-- 1943. v SCHQRNSTE-IN L 2,314,106

' HAT PACKAGE Filed Nov. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEO/ 0L O .4. 5 (THOR/VS TEl/V RAPHAEL IV. SCHOR/VSTE'M Gui-M Patented Mar. 16, 1943 HAT PACKAGE Leopold A. Schornstein and Raphael M. Schornstein, Galveston, Tex.

Application November 19, 1940, Serial No. 366,302

5 Claims.

This invention pertains to means for packaging hats suitable for delivery, storage or transportation.

In the packing of hats for storage or transportation it is desirable to so pack the hats that they are not injured. They should not be crushed, and their surface finishes should not be marred.

The present invention is directed to' means for suspending a hat in a, shipping container, or other storage space, in such a manner that the surface material of the hat is out of contact with the container and the supporting means within the container. Furthermore, means are provided to hold the hat firmly in suspended position within the container so that it will not slide or shift relative to the container, or relative to the means suspending the hat within the container. Thus, the hat is held against tossing about within the container.

Pursuant to this purpose the invention comprises a support member with means to attach the hat to the support member in firm engagement therewith. The support member, preferably comprising a, flat ring, is constructed to fit the container, and to be placed therein definitely positioned to suspend. the hat out of contact with the container. Means are provided to attach the hat to the ring, preferably adapted to engage portions of the hat other than the outside surface thereof. In the preferred practice of the invention the means for attaching the hat to the support member is adapted to suspend the hat from its inside band, commonly termed the sweat band. Means are provided to engage the support member within the container to hold the support member firmly in position within the container so that the hat within the container is entirely out of contact with the container.

..'I'he invention is susceptible of a number of modifications, comprising the objects and advantages as hereinbefore expressed. For the full appreciation of the various objects and advantages of the invention attention is directed to the accompanying drawings and description thereof which presents several practical embodiments of the invention by way of example. In the drawmgs:

Figure 1 shows a hat supporting container embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hat supporting ing; a Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a spacer element employed in the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 4 presents a modified form of hat suppo ti i -Figure5 is a detailed cross section showin the manner of supporting the hat in a container on the ring of Figure 4; v

Figure 6 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of another modified form of hat supporting ring;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional elevation through i the center of the container presenting another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a ring supporting spacer member employed in the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly in section, of another spacer member shown in the embodiment of Figure 'l;

Figure 10 presents an elevation, partly -in section, of a hat container including another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing a modified form of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a detailed cross sectional elevation, with parts broken away, of structure capable of being used in the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11. I

As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises a fiat ring l5 adapted to support the hat, according to the preferred practice of the invention, below its undersurface. The fiat ring if presents an inside periphery l6 conforming, in general, with the size of crowns IQ of hats l8. In the practice of the invention the hat supporting ring is adapted to fit hats of various sizes with crowns of various sizes. The inside periphery i6 is not made of size to precisely fit any particular hat crown size, but is at least as large as the largest size of hat crown to be accommodated, and is preferably slightly larger for reasons which will appear clear hereinafter.

The outside periphery I! of the ring I5 is greater than the periphery of the rim l9 of'any hat to be supported by the device of theinvention, In addition the outside periphery I! is constructed to fit snugly within the inside surface of the side walls 23 of a hat container, illus trated generallyat 22 in Figure 1. The inside of the hat container 22 is amply large to accommodate hats with clearance beyond the periphery of the rim 20. i

. Attached to the flat ring l5, by any suitable means, are several straps 25. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the straps 26 are fastened to the ring l5 by means of staples 21. According to the preferred practice of the invention as shown, the straps 26 are arranged to lie across the top surface 28 of thering 15, extending toward the center thereof to hang over the ledge of the inside periphery I6 proe jecting downwardly through the opening thereof. According to the preferred practice of the invention shown, the straps 26 are arranged in pairs,

the straps of each pair being disposed opposite each other across the center of ring l5. There are two such pairs of straps 26 shown but obviously there can be as many straps disposed around the ring l as are found desirable.

Attached to each strap 26, according to the preferred practice of the invention, is a clip 36 which may be of any suitable strip material,

cardboard having been found satisfactory. Each clip 30 is provided with the slits 3| which fit the strap 26, and through which the strap can be threaded as shown. It will be noted from the construction shown, that the clip 30 can be slid along the strap 26 to change its position longi-- tudinally thereof. The material of the clip 30 is resilient enough to engage the strap frictionally in any position of adjustment.

The straps 26 may comprise any suitable material, and in one practica1 application of the invention, constitute a fine gauge malleable metal. By means of this construction a hat I8 may be attached to a flat ring I5 very conveniently. One end 32 of the clip 30 extending beyond the slits 3| lies in opposed relationship to the strap 26 to form a notch convenient for the sweat band 2| of the hat to be positioned therein. With the several straps 26 extending through the opening of the inside periphery l6 of the ring I 5, they are projected into the hat crown, and the clips 30 are slid along the straps 26 to position the clip ends 32 under the sweat band 2| on the inside of the hat crown H3. The clips 30 are drawn up taut to place the under-surface 34 of the hat rim 2!! into engagement with the bottom surface 2 9 of the ring l5, the bottom surface 29 being that opposite the surface 28 on which the straps 26 lie. Preferably clips 38 of oppositely disposed straps 26 are adjusted together, to more readily position the hat concentrically with the ring I5. The inside periphery N5 of the ring I5 is, as hereinbefore explained, slightly larger than the size of the hat crown l9. Thus, when the hat is suspended from the ring l5, it is supported by pulls in different directions away from the center of the hat.

The fiat ring l5 attached to the hat in the manner described, is then held firmly attached thereto by bending end 36 of the strap 26 to hold the clip 30 in adjusted position. The bend 31 of the strap 26 forms a notch which engages the material of the clip 36 between slits 3|, the end 36 of the strap being bent into face to face relationship with the strap 26, as shown in Figure 1. As will be clear, the bend 31 of the strap holds the clip 3!) in adjusted position of engagement with the sweat band 2| of the hat l8. In this manner the hat I8 is firmly attached to the ring l5 to form a rigid assembly which can be handled as a unit. The hat I3, attached to the flat ring I5 in the manner described, is ready to be positioned in the hat box or container 22.

According to one practice of the invention, the side walls 23 of the container 22, as illustrated in Figure 1, are provided with a peripheral crimp 38 spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom 24 of the container, the distance from the crimp 38 to the bottom 24 being determined by the highest hat crown to be accommodated by the container. The outside periphery I! of the fiat ring |5 fits inside the walls 23 of the hat container 22, the fit preferably providing a slight clearance so that the ring can be slid into the container easily. A flat ring |5, with a hat attached thereto in the manner hereinbefore described. is placed in the container with the hat projecting downwardly, as shown in Figure 1, to bring the flat ring at its outer periphery H to rest upon the crimp 38. So positioned, the hat I8 is supported within the container 22 suspended from the ring l5, and entirely out of engagement with the container.

The hat so suspended within the container will be held firmly against shifting caused by jarring the container 22, and so held the hat will not-be subjected to any wearing or abrasive action which might injure the finish of the hat surface. The hat will not shift relative to ring l5 because it is firmly attached thereto by the straps 26 and clips 30. As further protection against shifting of the hat relative to its support, buffer pads 39 may be provided, attached to the undersurface 29 of the flat ring l5 by any suitable means, preferably in position opposite the severa1 straps 26. The buffer pads 39 may comprise any suitable material, it being preferred that they are soft and present frictional engagement. For example, they may comprise pads of sponge rubber. With the pads 39 present, the straps 25 hold the lower surface 34 of the hat rim 20 into firm engagement with the buffer pads 39 which engage the hat surface 34 frictionally against shifting relative to the ring l5.

The hat container 22, shown in Figure l, is adapted to contain a plurality of hats. Accordingly, the side walls 23 thereof are extended above the crimp 38 as illustrated. The spacer members 40, illustrated in detail in Figure 3, are provided.

Each spacer member 40 comprises the band 4| the outer surface of which fits snugly within the inside of the walls 23 of the container 22. Each edge 42 of the band 4| may be crimped to provide the beading, comprising the band material bent to form the inwardly directed, downwardly directed, and outwardly directed legs 44, 45 and 46 respectively, as illustrated. The legs 44 thus form braced ledges of channeled form. The ledge 44 of one edge of band 4| rests on a lower ring 5, as illustrated in Figure 1, and at the opposite edge the ledge 44 provides a rest for another ring I5. Thus, each spacer member 40 provides a support for an additional hat in the container.

The width of the band 4| is determined by the height of a hat crown, and is preferably somewhat less than the height of a hat crown because the several hats can be positioned in the container with their crowns nested within each other to some extent, as shown. According to the preferred structure, the band 4| is wide enough to keep each hat crown out of engagement with the ring l5 or the hat attached thereto comprising its next lower neighbor. The band 4| is positioned inside the side wall, 23 of the container, with its edge 43 resting on the top surface 28 of the fiat ring I5, as illustrated in Figure 1. The leg 44 of the beading provides a ledge, which operates similarly to the crimp 38 to support a second flat ring l5, with a hat l3 attached thereto in the manner hereinbefore described.

The hat container 22 can be constructed of any desired length, to support as many hats as are desired, suspended one above the other in the manner described. The embodiment shown in Figure 1 provides for three hats to be supported Within the container 22. Each hat before it is placed in the container, is attached to a ring I5, and a spacer member 45 is provided to support each hat above the first one. The preferred practice is to insert the largest hat I 8 in the container 22 first, and to place other hats in the container in the order of their diminishing size. Obviously a container constructed for carrying a given number of hats can be employed for carrying a lesser number by alternating the required number of spacer members 40 and flat rings 15 in the container, with only those rings I having hats I8 attached thereto as are required to accommodate the lesser number of hats.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the walls 23 of the container 22 extend upwardly a slight distance above the top surface 28 of the uppermost fiat ring l5, as illustrated at 41. The extension at 41 of the wall 23, as shown in Figure 1, accommodates a spacer member 18 interposed between the lid 25 and the topmost ring 15, to bear against it and hold all the rings and hats l8 firmly against movement within the container. The spacer member 18 is shown in detail in Figure 9, and will be described more fully hereinafter. It will be clear that the structure shown in Figure l is simple and inexpensive and that it operates to hold the several hats in rigid position within the container 22 against shifting relative to each other, the rings l5 and the container 22. It will be noted that the several hats are readily removable from the container 22 to enable the fiat rings i5, and the spacer members 49, to be removed and used repeatedly.

Figure 4 presents a modified form of fiat ring 48 better adapted for repeated use by eliminating the necessity, in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 2, to bend the same straps 25 each time a given fiat ring i5 is used. According to the construction illustrated in Figure 4, the straps 49 are not permanently attached to the fiat ring 48. Instead each fiat ring 48 is notched at 59 along its outer periphery 5i, a notch 5!! being located at each point along the periphery where a strap 49 is to be attached. A buffer pad 39, the same as that attached to ring I5, is attached to one surface 54 of the fiat ring 43 disposed opposite each notch 50 in the same radius therewith. The straps 49 are plain fiat malleable strips. Although clips, such as 3b, can be employed with straps 48, they are not necessary according to the shown embodiment.

A hat is attached to the fiat ring 48 by beginning with as many straps 49 as there are notches 59 in the ring 48. Each strap is bent near its end 55, at 56, the end 55 being bent back on itself in face to face relationship with the strap 49. The bend at 56 forms a notch in the strap or shapes the lower end of the strap to form a suspending hook to receive the sweat band 21 of a hat. The straps, preferably two opposite each other across the center or" the ring 48, are placed in engagement with the hat, with their ends 55 rojected under the sweat band 2i. Then, with a ring 33 resting on the rim 20 of a hat, with the pads 39 in engagement with the undersurface 34 of the hat rim, the straps are drawn apart and layed fiat across the top surface 53 of the ring 48 to respective opposite notches 59. The other or upper ends 51, Figure 5, of the straps 49 are now bent into the respective notches 50 and under the ring 43 into engagement with the under surface 54 thereof. Other opposite pairs of straps 49 are operated in a like manner to attach the hat l8 to the ring 68 at other points in its periphery. The hat i8 is now firmly attached to the ring 38, and the assembly is ready to be positioned in the container 22, Figure 5, with the outer edge 5| of the ring 48 resting on the peripheral crimp 38 of the container.

Figure 6 discloses another modified form of the fiat ring 60. According to this modification, one end of the strand GI is fixedly attached to the button 62, which is attached to the fiat ring by any suitable means, such as the rivet 63. The rivet 63 is conveniently present to attach the buffer pad 39 to the undersurface 64 of the ring 60, or the surface opposite surface 65 to which the button 62 is attached. The strands 6| and but.- tons 62 are preferably arranged in pairs opposite each other across the center of the ring Bl], in a manner and for a reason similar to the arrangement of straps 26 of Figure 2, and notches 50 of Figure 5.

Each strand 6| carries a cleat 65, and is threaded through apertures 61 thereof. The cleat is bent at 68 to provide an upwardly projecting leg 69 to engage under the sweat band 2 I. of a hat. The strand 6| can be slid through the apertures 61 to adjust the position of the cleat 66 along the strand when it engages the sweat band to draw the hat into firm engagement with the bufier pad 39 of the ring 50. When the hat is in firm engagement with the buifer pad 39, the free end of the strand Si is drawn taut and wrapped around the button 62 to attach the fiat ring 60 firmly to the hat, in the manner illustrated in Figure '1.

Figure 7 shows another modification of the invention directed to the hat container structure. The container 10 of Figure 7, comprises the side walls H which are smooth surfaced and lack the crimp such as 38 in the container 20, of Figure 1. The spacer member 12, illustrated in detail in Figure 8, is provided to take the place of the crimp 38 in the hat container. This spacer member 12 is similar to the spacer member 40 of Figure 3, but preferably th band 13 is shaped to form a truncated cone. In the shown embodiment, the edge at the larger end of the band 13 is crimped to form a beaded edge 14 similar to the edge 42 of th band 4|, to provide a ledge.

The width of the band 13 between the ledge 14 and the opposite edge 15 is determined by the largest hat to be accommodated by the container. The outer periphery of the ledge 14 fits snugly within the side walls 1| of the container 10. In practice, the spacer member 12 is positioned in the container in the manner illustrated in Figure 7, with the ledge 14 upwardly disposed, and the opposite edge 15 resting on the The spacer mem bottom 16 of the container. ber 12 so positioned in the hat container 10 will support a fiat ring, such as 60, together with a hat l8 attached thereto, the ring 60 resting on.

the ledge 14 of the spacer member. Obviously any of the fiat rings i5, 48 or 80, illustrated respectively in Figures 2, 4 and 6, can be placed in the hat container 15. The walls 1! of the container 19 can be elongated to support a plurality of hats in a manner similar to the showing in Figure 1, or the container may be constructed to support a single hat, as in Figure 7.

In the showing of Figure '1, the upper edge 11 of the side walls 1] project above the fiat rings 68 to a sufficient extent to accommodate the lid spacer member 18. illustrated in detail in Figure 9, comprises a band 19 of sheet material, bent upon itself to bring its opposite edges 89 and 8! adjacent each other. This spacer member 18 is of resilient construction, and operates to yield to engagement by the lid 82 when positioned to close the container 10. In this manner the fiat ring 60 is held more rigidly in the container.

The lid spacer member 18,

A simpler and less expensive form of lid spacer member 84 is illustrated in Figure 10. It comprises a band the opposite edges 85 and 86 engage the lid and the flat ring 48 to hold the ring rigidly placed in the container.

' As a slight departure from the embodiments of Figures 1, 5 and '7, the hat l8 may be attached to the flat ring by projecting the crown l9 thereof through the opening of the inside periphery 52 of the ring. This flat ring may be identical with the ring 48 illustrated in Figure 4. In the practice of this embodiment of the invention the edge of the hat rirn 20 rests on the top surface 53 of the fiat ring 48. The straps 49 are bent at one end at 56, the end 55 of each strap thus forming a clip to be positioned under the sweat band 2| of the hat. From its bend at 56 each strap is pressed flat against the bottom surface 34 of the hat rim 20. The free end of each strap is then bent around the edge of the flat ring 48, for example, by bending it into and around a notch similar to the notch 59, illustrated in Figure l, and into engagement with the undersurface 54 of the ring 48.

The embodiment of Figure 10 may be modified to include the strand and clea-t construction, similar to the construction illustrated in Figure 6. However, according to this modification of th invention the button 52 is positioned near the outer periphery of the fiat ring 65.

To prevent distortion of the hat rim 20, under the practice of the invention as illustrated in- Figures 10 and 11, the support pad 88, illustrated in Figure 12, may be employed. The support pad 88 comprises resilient material, such as cardboard, formed in a ring and bent at 89 to provide the upper and lower panels, 90 and 9! respectively. The panels 9! and Q! are compressible resiliently toward each other and thus enable the hat rim 20 to be held in firm engagement with the flat ring, which may be either the flat ring 48 of Figure 10, or the flat ring 60 of Figure 1-1. The use of the support pad 88 permits firm engagement of the hat rim 28 with the flat ring while maintaining the curvature of the hat rim imparted to it by the blocking operation.

It will be obvious that hats packaged according to the hereinbefore disclosure are held rigidly within the container and will not be tossed about within the container when it is jarred. The hats are rigidly attached to a support member which, in turn, is rigidly held in position in the container so that the composite structure, including the hat or hats, the one or more support members present, and the container constitutes a unitary rigid assembly.

It will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that the shown embodiments of the invention are susceptible to a number of departures within the spirit of the invention, and the present application is not limited to the disclosed structure. The scope of the invention is determined by the accompanying claims.

What we claim is:

l. A hat support comprising, a fiat ring with an inside opening commensurate with the size of the hat crown and an outside periphery greater than the periphery of the hat rim, attaching elements having upper end portions extending over upon the upper surface of the ring and engaging the ring and extending down throughthe internal opening thereof with their lower portions disposed below the plane of the ring, and a clip at the lower portion of each attaching member adapted to engage the inside band of the hat, the attaching elements being disposed spaced apart circumferentially of the ring.

2. A hat package comprising, a container, a hat supporting member comprising a fiat ring with an inside periphery presenting an opening commensurate with the size of the hat crown and an outside periphery greater than the periphery of the heat rim, attaching elements having upper portions extending over upon the upper surface of the ring and engaging the ring and thence extending down through the opening in the ring and having lower portions disposed below the plane of the ring, a clip at the lower portion of each attaching element adapted to engage the inside band of the hat, the attaching elements being disposed spaced apart circumferentially of the ring, the hat container comprising a side wall and a bottom, a circumferential peripheral ledge at the inside surface of the side wall to provide a rest for the hat support member, the ledge being spaced away from the bottom of the container a greater distance than the height of the crown of the hat to be packaged in the container.

3. Hat supporting means for use in a hat container comprising a fiat supporting ring of an external diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the container and having an opening of a diameter and shape approximating that of the body of the hat to be supported, suspending means hung from the upper surface of the ring and extending downward through the opening in the ring, and means upon the suspending means located below the plane of the ring for engagement with the interior of the hat body to suspend the hat from the ring.

4. A hat package comprising a container, a flat supporting ring to fit within the container, said ring being of an external diameter corresponding to that of the interior of the container and having an opening of a diameter and shape corresponding substantially to that of the hat to be supported, suspending means hung from the upper surface of the ring and extending downward through the opening in the ring and provided with means located below the plane of the ring for engagement with the interior of the hat body to suspend the hat from the ring, and a spacing and supporting member comprising a ring to fit within the container, said ring having a lower beaded edge to support it in the container and an upper beaded edge to support the supporting ring in the container.

5. A device for packaging hats in a cylindrical container comprising a fiat ring having an external diameter to fit snugly within the container in engagement with the cylindrical wall thereof and an internal diameter slightly greater than that of the crown of the hat to be packed, the width of the ring being greater than that of the brim of the hat to be packed, adjustable means supported from the ring to engage the sweat band of a hat, and means to secure the flat ring against axial movement within the container.

LEOPOLD A. SCHORNSTEIN. RAPHAEL M. SCHORNSTEIN. 

